COVID Distance Learning Syllabus Addendums 2020-2021
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COVID Distance Learning Syllabus Addendums
2020-2021
1. Taking notes.
a. Note-taking is a critical academic skill. Generally, I would provide students a
printout copy of the day’s PowerPoint lecture notes, which students would then
annotate with pertinent details. Obviously, this is not easily done through an
online-only forum. In this manner, students must pick a note-taking method that
works for them. Not taking notes is not an option. Suggestions include but are
not limited to: taking notes in a notebook or on loose leaf paper, printing out the
PowerPoint and annotating it yourself, taking digital notes on a word processor
(i.e.: Word, Pages, Google Docs, etc.).
b. When we return to campus in person, I will provide printout copies. If we return
to a hybrid schedule (highly likely), I will provide all the notes for the following
week on the last day of in person instruction (Wednesday or Thursday depending
on your cohort). For example, a student would receive all of their PowerPoints for
August 24th-28th on Wednesday, August 20th, or Thursday, August 21st. This will
allow them to have paper copies of the PowerPoint while signing on to class from
home.
2. Attendance
a. Teachers will be taking attendance digitally through Zoom or Google Meets. All
students will be expected to log on to each of their classes every day following the
normal 8am to 2:30pm bell schedule. Students that are not logged into the class
period’s Zoom/Google Meet by the time class begins will be marked absent.
i. Students must show themselves via video during the attendance period. I
will let students know when they are allowed to switch off their webcams.
Students will still be expected to pay attention and engage with the
meeting. If a student is called on and is unresponsive, they will risk losing
class points.
ii. If students are having technical difficulties, email me immediately and
explain the issue.
iii. Not logging on and/or logging off early or late (without prior teacher
approval) will lead to being marked absent. Policies on excused versus
unexcused absences are still in place.
3. General Class Norms
a. Log on to our Zoom meeting at your assigned class period on time.
b. While Mrs. Barnes is taking attendance, take out your materials for the day
(notebook, lecture notes, pen/pencil, highlighter, etc.). Be sure that your camera is
ON and your microphone is MUTED.
c. Behave as you would if you were sitting in my classroom.
i. Misuse of the technology to be a classroom distraction will result in
classroom consequences. Recurrent behavioral issues will be addressed in
a private meeting between the student and myself, then a meeting with the
student and their parent, and if the issue persists, administration will take
over.
1
ii. Make sure that you are following dress code when you are on camera.
iii. Try to set up your school/study space in a less trafficked area of your
home if possible.
4. Late Work
a. My policy on late work outlined in the syllabus still stands. I will not accept late
work; being late equates to a score of zero. With that being said, technical issues
will be considered, but must be communicated promptly. If a student has technical
issues with an assignment, but does not inform me immediately, grace on the
policy will not be extended. It is the student’s responsibility to inform the teacher
of any technical issues that impact the ability for them to do their work on time.
b. Exception: excused absences. Obviously, if a student is ill or absent for a
legitimate reason, they will be granted the make-up period (two days per absence
up to a max of a school week—which is five school days) to complete outstanding
work. Work not done within the make-up window, however, will be considered
late and will not yield credit.
2
AP Government Course Syllabus1
North Pointe Prep
Fall 2020-Spring 2021
Instructor Information
Mrs. Nikki Barnes
Phone: 623.209.0017
Email: nbarnes@pointeschools.org
Location: Room 511
Google Classroom Join Code: nluwoyq AP Classroom Join Code: 3GGX6A
Khan Academy Join Code: HZGMRXWW Quizlet Link: https://quizlet.com/join/AMaBZBwrR
Required Materials
• Textbooks:
o Wilson, James Q. and John J. DiIulio, Jr. American Government. 10th ed. Boston:
Houghton Mifflin, 2006. (Replacement cost—$78)
o Edwards, George C., Wattenberg, Martin P., and Robert L. Lineberry.
Government in America: People Politics, and Policy. 14th ed. New York:
Longman, 2009. (Replacement cost—$125.97)
• Supplemental texts:
o Foundational documents2
o Required Supreme Court holdings3
• Computer access: Pointe Schools student email account with Google Classroom access,
Word processing software (i.e.: Word, Pages, Google Docs, etc.), general Internet for
assignments and research
o Student accounts for the following: AP Classroom, Khan Academy, and Quizlet.
• 2” Binder with 10 dividers (AP Docs, Units 1-2, Unit 3, Unit 4, Unit 5, Unit 6, Unit 7,
Unit 8, Unit 9, Unit 10): Students will keep and organize their work by unit in this binder.
Handouts, graded assignments, study guides, etc. are critical tools in understanding and
retaining knowledge, so students will KEEP THEM. Final exams, as well as the AP exam,
will be cumulative.
• One subject notebook for reading assignment outlines: Students will be required to
outline the text information, as well as identify major terms and ideas. There will be a
reading quiz on the day immediately after a reading assignment is assigned. Whatever
notes are taken in the notebook may be used on the reading quizzes. These notebooks will
be collected quarterly for a homework grade.
• Student planner/calendar: Students must have an academic planner where they keep track
of course assignments and assessments. This calendar may be (and should be) used
across disciplines.
• Pens/pencils, highlighters
1
*NOTE: I reserve the right to change the policies of this syllabus for the proper facilitation of this course.
2
College Board, AP® U.S. Government and Politics 2018-2019 Curriculum Framework, p. 29-30.
3
College Board, AP® U.S. Government and Politics 2018-2019 Curriculum Framework, pp. 31-33.
3Course Information
Purpose: AP United States Government and Politics is a college-level introduction to key
political concepts, ideas, institutions, policies, interactions, roles, and behaviors that characterize
the constitutional system and political culture of the United States. Students will read and
analyze U.S. foundational documents, Supreme Court decisions, and other texts and visuals to
gain an understanding of the relationships and interactions between political institutions and
behavior. They will read and interpret data, develop evidence-based arguments, and engage in an
applied civics project.4
AP U.S. Government and Politics offers students the opportunity to see how individuals
and their ideas can shape the world in which they live; it invites them to explore central
questions of liberty and justice in practice. The ideas at the heart of the American founding
remain as vital and urgent as they were more than 200 years ago; it is our task to make them
vivid once more. The principles of knowledge for the course are as follows:
1. command of the Constitution lies at the center of this course as the touchstone for
informed citizenship and scholarship,
2. analysis of the documents and debates that formed our republic and animate public
life today,
3. principled attention to the best arguments on both sides as students read and write,
4. focus on civic knowledge as students’ right and responsibility.
Aristotle famously described humankind as a “political animal.” He argues that a person
who lives without a political life is incomplete and alone, like an isolated checker piece. For
Aristotle, participation in civic life is necessary to live fully. President Eisenhower much more
recently declared that “politics ought to be the part time profession of every person who would
protect the rights and privileges of free people and who would preserve what is good and fruitful
in our national heritage.”5
Content Coverage: This year is going to be a whirlwind full of wonderful experiences,
excitement, anticipation, and, of course, hard work. You have enrolled in AP U.S. Government.
This class will be challenging and require preparation and dedication outside of the classroom.
The AP curriculum is extensive and multidimensional. We will be using the following in our
year-long study of American government and economics:
• Course texts—Wilson & DiIulio’s American Government (10th ed.); Edwards,
Wattenberg and Lineberry’s Government in America (14th ed.)
• Primary sources including The Federalist Papers (Nos. 10, 51, 70, and 78), Brutus
No. 1, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the U.S.
Constitution, and Letter from Birmingham Jail.
• A series of fifteen Supreme Court decisions over the course of U.S. judicial history.
• Contemporary news articles from an array of sources.
• Video resources such as clips from national and international news organizations,
political satirists, like The Daily Show and Saturday Night Live, and documentaries.
• Published data in varied forms that require objective and interpretive analysis.
To prepare you for your end of the year exam, you will be6:
4
College Board, AP® U.S. Government and Politics 2018-2019 Curriculum Framework, p. 1.
5
College Board, AP® U.S. Government and Politics 2018-2019 Curriculum Framework, p. iv.
6
College Board, AP® U.S. Government and Politics Workshop Handbook 2011-2012, p. 17.
4• Reading the assigned textbook chapters and other readings,
• Participating in class lectures and activities,
• Completing, to the best of your ability, course assignments in order to describe and
explain connections among political behavior, institutions, and beliefs,
• Regularly practicing answering analytical and interpretive free-response questions
like those on the AP exam,
• Regularly practicing answering multiple choice questions like those on the AP exam,
• Participating in a civics-related project designed by the instructor and course peers,
• Developing an argument about political principles, processes, behaviors, and
outcomes.
Units: We will be covering the following ten units. See Appendix (Course Plan) for a more in
depth outline. The following ten units have been designed to fulfill instruction of the AP
curriculum’s five “Big Ideas” through coverage of the AP content outline, in addition to the
Arizona state standards for economics education:
• Big Idea 1: Constitutionalism (CON) • AP Content Unit 1-Foundations of American
• Big Idea 2: Liberty & Order (LOR) Democracy
• Big Idea 3: Civic Participation in a • AP Content Unit 2-Interactions Among Branches of
Representative Democracy (PRD) Government
• Big Idea 4: Competing Policy-Making • AP Content Unit 3-Civil Liberties & Civil Rights
Interests (PMI) • AP Content Unit 4-American Political Ideologies &
• Big Idea 5: Methods of Political Analysis Beliefs
(MPA) • AP Content Unit 5-Political Participation
1. Foundations of American Government (C.U. 1)
2. The Constitution & Bill of Rights (C.U. 1)
3. Federalism: Central and State Government (C.U. 1)
4. Political Parties, Beliefs, and Behaviors (C.U. 4, 5)
5. Campaigns, Elections, Interest Groups and the Media (Linkage Institutions) (C.U. 5)
6. Legislative Branch (C.U. 2)
7. Executive Branch & the Bureaucracy (C.U. 2)
8. Judicial Branch & Civil Rights and Liberties (C.U. 2, C.U. 3)
9. Public Policy (C.U. 2, 5)
10. American Economics
a. Intro to Economics
b. Supply & Demand
c. Measuring the Economy
d. Inflation & Unemployment
e. Government & Economics (Fiscal & Monetary Policy) (C.U. 2, 5)
f. Personal Finance
AP Exam Taking Policy: You will be taking the AP U.S. Government & Politics Exam at the
end of the school year. This is non-negotiable. You must exert your full energies and efforts into
ensuring that you grasp the course content in order to pass the exam. Students who fall below a C
and show signs of not taking the AP course and exam seriously will be subject to teacher referral
5to administration for withdrawal from the AP program. You must take the AP exam in order to
receive AP level credit for the course. The AP U.S. Government and Politics Exam is
scheduled for Monday, May 3, 2021 at 8am.
Classroom Procedures & Consequences
Classroom Expectations:
1. Be on time.
2. Respect yourself and others.
3. Be prepared.
4. Do your best work.
5. Maintain an environment for learning.
6. Keep a positive attitude.
7. Take responsibility.
8. Dress appropriately.
9. Use your time wisely.
Attendance: Students are expected to be in class every day. Please refer to the Student
Handbook on the school’s policies toward absences. Unexcused absences and absences due to
out-of-school suspension will receive scores of zero on any assignments or assessments due that
day.
I do understand that there are unavoidable circumstances in which a student will be
absent. When this occurs, it is the student’s responsibility to
acquire the materials (i.e.: notes, assignments, etc.) that they
missed. There is an absentee filing box which is used to hold any
handouts, worksheets, notes, etc. that were presented in class.
There is also a weekly calendar complete with a daily agenda to
hold students accountable for organizing homework assignments,
due dates, and scheduling for tests and quizzes.
Further, excessive absences can result in loss of credit for
the course. “If a student is absent for more than 9 days in a
semester, the status of the class becomes an audit and their
grades/credits may be withheld. Parental excused, as well as
unauthorized absences, will count toward a limit of 9 absences
per semester. This policy does not include absences or tardies due to school activities. Cases
involving prolonged illness or unusual circumstances will be reviewed by administration.”7 After
9 absences, students will lose credit for any assessment or assignment missed due to any
subsequent absence(s).
Tardiness: Tardiness is absolutely unacceptable. It does not only affect the individual who is
tardy, but his/her classmates. The first offense will result in a formal warning. Second and
subsequent offenses will result in referral for lunch and/or after school detention. Habitual
tardiness will result in administrative action up to suspension and/or loss of credit for this course.
For all periods, students must be present and in their assigned seats at the start of class at
the final bell. Students must meet these two requirements in order to accrue credit for that day’s
7
Student Handbook, p. 13.
6assignments or assessments. If an assignment is due at the beginning of the hour and the student
is tardy, the student may lose points.
Leaving the Classroom: It is the student’s responsibility to come to class prepared. Once the
final bell rings, students are expected to have their materials for that day ready immediately.
With the exception of using the restroom and calls from the front office and 4A Center, students
will not be permitted to leave the classroom during class time. If a student needs to use the
restroom, they may raise their hand to be excused. In this case, students are to sign out on the
student log, located at the student resource area at the back of the classroom, and turn in their cell
phone to the teacher.
Start of Class: Students will be expected to do the following each day:
1. Come to class on time.
2. Grab the required, teacher produced materials needed for that day’s lesson on the student
resource area by the door.
3. Sit in their assigned seat.
4. Review the “Agenda” for their class. Complete any tasks listed within the agenda for the
day by the ringing of the final bell (i.e. getting out notes/materials from a prior lesson).
This means that students should have all materials ready to go immediately upon
conclusion of the instructor taking attendance.
Grading Policy
Grading Philosophy: Grading in this course will reflect a student’s achievement relative to the
assigned coursework (i.e.: tests, quizzes, homework, class work, participation, group projects,
etc.).
Course Grading: Each student will receive a letter grade upon completion of this course. This
grade will correlate with the effort and achievement of individual students on class assessments
and assignments. All assessments and assignments will be recorded in the online grading
resource as “Total Points”. All points, regardless of category (i.e.: tests/quizzes, classwork,
homework), will be weighted equally to the calculation of the course grade. Students and parents
can access course grades using the Online Academic Resource via the Student Grades link on
www.northpointeprep.com.
Grade Breakdown: The grade percentages that correlate with the actual letter grade are listed
below.
Percentage Letter Grade
90-100+% A
80-89% B
65-79% C
55-64% D
below 55% F
Senior Second Semester Grade: Seniors who are not passing classes necessary for graduation
by the end of the first school day in May will not participate in North Pointe’s Senior Awards
Night and Graduation, even if they are passing the classes on the last day of school.
7Semester Grades: Per North Pointe Social Studies Department policy, semester grades will be
weighted as follows:
40% (Quarter 1/3) + 40% (Quarter 2/4) + 20% (Final Exam) = Final Grade
Example: Jane earned an 87% Quarter 1, a 94% Quarter 2, and an 85% on her Semester
1 Final Exam. What would her final grade for the class be?
87(x0.40) + 94(x.40) + 85(x.20)
=34.8 + 37.6 + 17
=89.4% B (this would be rounded to 89% in the gradebook)
Late Work: Late work will NOT be accepted. This means that there is no late work; being late
equates to a ZERO. Being prompt on class work is critical. Students are to effectively manage
their time in order to complete the work assigned to them. If a student develops a habit of not
turning in work on time, immediate communication with both the student and his/her
parent/guardian will occur to resolve the issue. This policy is meant to prepare students for the
time management skills needed in a challenging college/university environment.
The obvious exception is that of the ill or absent student. Per the Student Handbook,
students are granted two days upon their return to make up class work and missed tests and
quizzes.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is defined as “the unauthorized use or close
imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the
representation of them as one’s own original work”.8 Students will
be expected to properly cite any information they use in formal
assignments. Most instances of plagiarism are accidental, but this
does not make it acceptable. If a student engages in plagiarism, they
will receive a grade of 0 on whatever assignment, test, or project
that contains the plagiarism. Further occurrences will result in
administrative discipline. Plagiarism is serious business; students must make sure to evaluate
their work carefully and critically to avoid this pitfall.
Cheating: Cheating is defined as “tak[ing] an examination
or test in a dishonest way, as by improper access to
answers.”9 Cheating on any exam, quiz, or assignment in
this class will result in a grade of 0. No exceptions, no
excuses. Students that engage in cheating on multiple
occasions will be subject to administrative discipline.
Extra Credit: Extra credit will be available at my discretion. Students are welcome to propose
an extra credit opportunity, but they must bear in mind that not every proposal will be accepted.
8
"Plagiarism." Dictionary.com. N.p., 2010. Web. 28 Apr 2010.
.
9
“Cheating.” Dictionary.com. N.p., 2010. Web. 28 Apr 2010. .
8Expected Student Behavior
Student Attention: Students will be expected to pay attention during the lesson. Paying
attention while someone else is speaking is a major part of creating a respectful environment. In
addition, most of the course material will be presented via lecture. Notes are mandatory to do
well in this class. The majority of the information will not be blatantly printed on the provided
materials. This means that you will have to attend to the entire lecture and generate your own,
marginal notes consistently. This is preparation for a college environment, where student-
centered note-taking is a crucial skill.
Cell Phones & Other Devices: Students are expected to have their devices turned off, or to
silent, and stored during class time. This is a point of respect for both the teacher and classmates;
while in class, students should have their complete attention on the work of the course. In this
respect, cell phones and other devices (i.e.: smart watches, tablets, handheld games, etc.) are not
to be used during the class period unless instructed otherwise for the facilitation of coursework.
If a cell phone, or other like device, causes a disruption to the class, it will be confiscated
for the class period. Multiple occurrences will lead to confiscation for a full academic day and/or
turning the device into the front office to be picked up by a parent. Insubordination in regard to
device use may result in administrative, disciplinary action.
Devices may not be in sight during any testing period. This includes when a student is
finished with an assessment. Use or presence of a device during an exam or quiz will
automatically render a score of zero for the student.
Discussion Decorum: Throughout this course, we will be discussing some very controversial
issues. Unlike our elected officials, it is expected that students respectfully disagree with one
another. I will not tolerate any personal attacks or rude comments between any students.
Any breach of this decorum will result in loss of credit for the assignment that day and
potentially administrative action.
Tutoring Policy: If a student is earning a grade of D or F, they should strongly consider
attending tutoring from 2:35pm-3:30pm Mondays and Wednesdays until their grade improves to
at least a C. Students with failing grades will fill out and sign an Individualized Academic Plan.
This plan is designed for students to commit to specific, problem-solving strategies to improve
their grade. Students with failing grades will be on academic probation until their grade improves
to a C.
Course Failure Policy: Once enrolled, North Pointe does not accept course credit from other
high school or online institutions. Students who fail a semester core course are required to attend
Academic Friday School from 12:15 pm - 3:30 pm the following semester to make up the
credit. Students who fail to attend Academic Friday School are subject to disciplinary action.
Parent Communication
Parents may contact me using the contact information listed at the top of this syllabus. Due to
other responsibilities, I am not available for face-to-face meetings. Email is the best mode of
contact. Behavior and academic issues will warrant parent contact. Administration will step in if
an issue remains unresolved.
9APPENDIX (COURSE PLAN)
Semester 1
Unit 1: Foundations of American Government
Big Idea(s): LOR, MPA
AP Content Unit(s): 1, 3
Textbook(s): pp. 3-10 (Wilson)
Primary Source(s): John Locke’s Second Treatise
SCOTUS Case(s): N/A
Key Topics Sample Assignment(s)
• What is Power? & Intro to Political Philosophers Students will read John Locke’s Second Treatise after
• Types of Government (ex: democracy, autocracy, reading a children’s story about a grizzly bear and his
communism, etc.) valley. Students will make connections between the
provided text and Locke’s essay, explaining how the
children’s story embodies the big ideas of political
philosophy (i.e.: natural rights, social contract, etc.).
Unit 2: Constitution & Bill of Rights
Big Idea(s): CON, LOR, MPA
AP Content Unit(s): 1, 3
Textbook(s): pp. 17-35 (Wilson)
Primary Source(s): Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, Federalist Nos. 10,
51, 70, 78, Brutus No. 1, Constitution, Bill of Rights, Amendments 11-27
SCOTUS Case(s): McCulloch v. Maryland, Brown v. Board of Education (I), Engel v. Vitale
Key Topics Sample Assignment(s)
• Declaration of Independence Students will read and analyze the text of the Declaration
• Articles of Confederation of Independence. They will annotate the text with
• Constitutional Convention—Virginia Plan, New connections to John Locke’s social contract theory and the
Jersey Plan, Great/Connecticut Compromise concept of natural rights.
• Ratification of the Constitution
• Federalists v. Anti-Federalists Students will read and analyze the text of selected
• Federalist Papers (Nos. 10, 51, 70, 78) Federalist Papers, including Nos. 10, 51, 70, and 78.
• Six Basic Principles (checks and balances, limited
government, judicial review, popular Students will adopt a perspective on the ratification of the
sovereignty/consent of the governed, separation of Constitution and write a letter to their state’s delegation
powers, federalism) arguing for or against adoption of the new government.
• The Preamble to the Constitution
Students will read summaries of selected SCOTUS cases
• The 7 Articles (of the Constitution) and describe how the Court interpreted the relevant
• The Bill of Rights constitutional clause. For example, students will read a
• Amendments 11-27 summary of Loving v. Virginia and explain how the case
• Constitutional Clauses (i.e.: Supremacy, Commerce, exemplifies the equal protection clause of the 14th
Elastic, Equal Protection, etc.) Amendment regarding marital equality.
10Unit 3: Federalism
Big Idea(s): CON, LOR, PMI, MPA
AP Content Unit(s): 1
Textbook(s): pp. 50-52, 68-70 (Wilson); pp. 84-90 (Edwards)
Primary Source(s): Constitution
SCOTUS Case(s): McCulloch v. Maryland, U.S. v. Lopez, McDonald v. Chicago
Key Topics Sample Assignment(s)
• Federalism Students will read a summary of the Minimum Drinking
o Supremacy Clause (McCulloch v. Maryland, Age Act and the holding for the SCOTUS case that
McDonald v. Chicago) challenged it (South Dakota v. Dole). Students will explain
• Positives and Negatives of Federalism how the Court interpreted the role of the federal
• Types of Federalism government within the states in regard to regulating
• Devolution (1st, 2nd, and 3rd order) alcohol.
• Types of Power (delegated, enumerated/expressed,
reserved, concurrent, implied, exclusive, denied, Students will examine an initiative or referendum on the
inherent) Arizona ballot and construct an argument for or against its
• Grants (block v. categorical, revenue sharing) passage.
• Conditions of Aids & Mandates
Students will be provided pictures illustrating various
• State Sovereignty
federal and state regulatory requirements (ex: ADA
o Direct Democracy at the State Level:
drinking fountains, NCLB standardized testing, state health
Initiative, Referendum and Recall
codes, etc.) and must differentiate whether the requirement
o Police Power
is state or federal and explain why it falls under that level
o Nullification Doctrine
of government.
o U.S. v. Lopez
Unit 4: Political Parties, Beliefs, and Behaviors
Big Idea(s): PRD, PMI, MPA
AP Content Unit(s): 4, 5
Textbook(s): pp. 76-80, 167-172, 178-193, 198-233 (Wilson); pp. 191-195, 201-210, 248-256,
258-268, 312-217 (Edwards)
Primary Source(s): N/A
SCOTUS Case(s): N/A
Key Topics Sample Assignment(s)
• Political Spectrum (liberal v. conservative) Students will take a political ideology assessment and
• Political Compass (fiscal v. social scales) explain their political views. They will then compare this
• Political Party assessment to their parents’ political views and write an
• Realigning/Critical Elections analysis describing their own political socialization
• Dealignment (Growth of the Independent) experience.
• History of American Suffrage
Students will analyze exit poll data from the 1972-2016
• National, State, and Local Party Structure (ex:
national convention, superdelegates, etc.) presidential elections. This will include identifying what
political party more consistently carries which
• Two Party System & Minor Parties
demographics, as well as explanations as to why these
• Political Socialization groups may vote that way.
• Reinforcing v. Cross-Cutting Cleavages
• Voter Demographics & Behavior Trends
11• Voter Turnout & Apathy Students will construct responses to a quantitative analysis
• Forms of Political Participation (ex: voting, FRQ regarding voting patterns by state in the 1992 and
campaigning, volunteering, etc.) 1996 presidential elections.
• American Political Culture
o Internal v. External Political Efficacy
o Political Tolerance, Paradox of Tolerance
Unit 5: Campaigns, Elections, Interest Groups and the Media (Linkage Institutions)
Big Idea(s): PRD, PMI, MPA
AP Content Unit(s): 4, 5
Textbook(s): pp. 155-158 (Wilson); pp. 183-184, 195-201, 277-298 (Edwards)
Primary Source(s): Constitution, Federalist No. 10, Brutus No. 1
SCOTUS Case(s): Baker v. Carr, Shaw v. Reno, Buckley v. Valeo, Citizens United v. FEC
Key Topics Sample Assignment(s)
• U.S. Elections Process Students will create and conduct a political poll. They will
o Terms (limits, staggered, fixed) then describe the results of their poll in a written summary.
o Winner-take-all/plurality v. proportional
systems Students will choose and annotate four articles from
o Primaries (open, closed, blanket, etc.) various sources on the same news event to evaluate the
o General elections level of bias in the text.
o Ballots
o Gerrymandering Students will write an argumentative essay evaluating the
o Coattail effect role of the NRA in gun control legislation. They will be
o Incumbency required to tie their argument to the Constitution, in
o Electoral College addition to Federalist No. 10 and/or Brutus No. 1.
• Campaign finance
o Hard money, soft money, independent
expenditures
o PACs, SuperPACs
o Federal Election Campaign Act, BCRA
o Buckley v. Valeo, Citizens United
• Public Opinion and Polling
• Media
o Functions (gatekeeper, scorekeeper,
watchdog)
o Federal Communication Commission (FCC)
o Selective exposure & perception
o Media bias, loaded language
• Interest Groups
o Pluralism v. Elite Theory
o Types of Interest Groups
o Lobbying, Revolving door
o Electioneering
o Litigation
o Grassroots Mobilization
o Iron Triangles & Issue Networks
12Unit 6: Legislative Branch (Congress)
Big Idea(s): CON, PMI, MPA
AP Content Unit(s): 2
Textbook(s): pp. 318-325, 330-347 (Wilson); pp. 367-373, 376-385 (Edwards)
Primary Source(s): Constitution
SCOTUS Case(s): McCulloch v. Maryland, Baker v. Carr, Shaw v. Reno
Key Topics Sample Assignment(s)
• House of Representatives Students will read and annotate Article 1 of the
o Speaker of the House Constitution with the differences, similarities, and powers
o Revenue bills of the House and Senate.
o Impeachment
o Rules Committee, Ways and Means Students will conduct a data and primary source analysis of
Committee, Appropriations Committee the incumbency advantage. This will include interpretation
o Apportionment, redistricting of the messages of selected political cartoons (illustrating
• Senate pork spending and earmarks impact on the federal budget),
o President Pro Tempore analysis of graphic evidence (regarding PAC and party
o Filibuster, cloture funding of incumbents compared to challengers, as well as
o Staggered elections the impact of the coattail effect on congressional
o Trial of impeachment elections), and evaluation of the demographic make-up of
th
o 17 Amendment the current Congress.
• Powers of Congress (Article 1, Section 8—
enumerated, concurrent, denied, Elastic Clause— Students will participate in a simulation of the House of
implied) Representatives. This capstone project for the unit will
• War Powers Resolution require students to choose, research, and amend bills, fight
• Committee system (standing, joint, select, for the passage of created bills via floor speeches and
conference, subcommittee) chamber votes.
• Seniority system
• Views of Voting (attitudinal/trustee model,
representational/delegate model, organizational,
politico model)
• Evolution of Congress (centralization v.
decentralization of power in the House, 17th
Amendment)
• How a Bill Becomes a Law
• Incumbency advantage
• Pork barrel legislation/earmarks
o Franking privilege
o Coattail effect
o Safe seats
o Single member districts
o Gerrymandering
• Comparison of Congress v. Parliament
13Unit 7: Executive Branch (Presidency, Bureaucracy)
Big Idea(s): CON, PMI, MPA
AP Content Unit(s): 2
Textbook(s): pp. 368-372, 379-383, 390-397, 401-402 (Wilson); pp. 406-415 (Edwards)
Primary Source(s): Constitution, Federalist No. 70
SCOTUS Case(s): N/A
Key Topics Sample Assignment(s)
• Powers of the President Students will read and annotate Article 2 of the
• Article 2 of the Constitution (Electing the President, Constitution with the structure and powers of the executive
Powers of the President, Impeachment/Removal) branch/presidency.
• The Vice Presidency
• Presidential Election Process Students will create a paper doll of a president of their
o Presidential Nomination & Primaries choice. This doll will illustrate one of the roles of the
(national convention, delegates, president inclusive of an explanation of how their chosen
superdelegates, front-loaded) president embodied that role during their time in office.
o Electoral College
o Inauguration Students will explain and evaluate the controversy over
o Lame duck period war powers between Congress and the President. This
• Agenda setting (State of the Union Address, bully analysis will include dissection of a political cartoon, the
pulpit, mandate, presidential support score) War Powers Resolution, and the Constitution.
• Roles of the President (legislative leader, chief
executive, head of state, commander in chief,
economic leader, political party leader)
• Cabinet (Executive Departments)
• Executive Office of the President (White House
Chief of Staff, First Lady, OMB, NSC, CEA, etc.)
• Presidential management styles (pyramid/hierarchal,
competitive, circular/ad hoc/collegial)
• Comparing President with Prime Minister
• Divided government and gridlock
• Controversies of Presidential Power (executive
orders, executive privilege, impoundment, line item
veto, war powers)
• Evolution of the Presidency (12th, 20th, 22nd, and 25th
Amendments)
• Bureaucracy
o Executive departments, independent
agencies, regulatory commissions,
governmental corporations
o Civil service, merit system, Hatch Act
o Iron triangles and issue networks
o Bureaucratic/administrative discretion
o Implementation
o Congressional and executive oversight
14Semester 2
Unit 8: Judicial Branch (SCOTUS, Federal Courts), Civil Rights & Civil Liberties
Big Idea(s): LOR, PRD, PMI, MPA
AP Content Unit(s): 2, 3
Textbook(s): pp. 98-151, 438-439, 446-451, 454-460 (Wilson); pp. 539-541 (Edwards)
Primary Source(s): Constitution, Federalist No. 78
SCOTUS Case(s): Engel v. Vitale, Wisconsin v. Yoder, Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School
District, New York Times v. U.S., Schenck v. U.S., Gideon v. Wainwright, Roe v. Wade, Gitlow v.
New York, McDonald v. Chicago, Plessy v. Ferguson, Brown v. Board (I & II), Marbury v.
Madison
Key Topics Sample Assignment(s)
• Article 3 of the Constitution (Original v. appellate Students will read and annotate Article 3 of the
jurisdiction, selection of judges, good behavior) Constitution with the structure and powers of the judicial
• Judicial Review (judicial activism v. judicial branch.
restraint, Marbury v. Madison)
• Structure of the American Court System (SCOTUS, Students will apply the judicial activist and restraint
Federal Courts of Appeal, Federal District Courts) perspectives to fictional scenarios. They will be required to
o Precedent, stare decisis connect their judgment back to the language of the law and
o Writ of certiorari explain how their decision-making is illustrative of a
o Rule of four modern or contextual approach to the text.
o Amicus curiae briefs, in forma pauperis
o Opinions of the Court (majority, concurring, Students will participate in a Mock Trial project. This
dissenting, per curiam) project will require students to develop and deliver an oral
o Sovereign immunity argument based on the Constitution and relevant precedent
• Judicial appointment process (senatorial courtesy v. for a non-required SCOTUS case.
advice and consent, litmus test)
• Selective incorporation, Barron v. Baltimore,
McDonald v. Chicago
• Civil liberties
o Due process clause
o Freedom of speech (prior restraint, clear and
present danger test, obscenity, symbolic
speech, libel v. slander, etc.)
§ Tinker v. Des Moines Independent
School District, New York Times v.
U.S., Schenck v. U.S., Gitlow v. New
York
o Freedom of religion (free exercise clause,
establishment clause, Lemon test, compelling
state interest, etc.)
§ Engel v. Vitale, Wisconsin v. Yoder
o Rights of the accused (exclusionary rule,
good faith exception, probable cause,
Miranda rights, Gideon v. Wainwright, etc.)
• Civil rights
o Equal protection clause
15o Strict scrutiny
o Affirmative action
o Equality of results v. equality of opportunity
o Privilege
o Reverse discrimination
o Civil rights and race (13th, 14th, 15th
Amendments, Civil Rights Act, Voting
Rights Act, Plessy v. Ferguson, Brown v.
Board (I & II), Letter from a Birmingham
Jail)
o Civil rights and gender/sex (19th
Amendment, ERA, Roe v. Wade, Title IX)
o Civil rights and the disabled (Americans with
Disabilities Act, IDEA)
o Civil rights and sexual orientation (DOMA,
Boy Scouts of America v. Dale, Obergefell v.
Hodges)
Unit 9: Public Policy
Big Idea(s): PRD, PMI, MPA
AP Content Unit(s): 2, 5
Textbook(s): pp. 473-479 (Wilson), Ch. 19 (Magleby, Light & Nemacheck), pp. 606-614
(Edwards), Ch. 16 (Wolfford’s AMSCO Government & Politics)
Primary Source(s): N/A
SCOTUS Case(s): N/A
Key Topics Sample Assignment(s)
• Policy Making Process Students will generate a written response to a quantitative
o Agenda setting analysis free-response question relating to Social Security
o Issue-attention cycle funding.
o Incremental v.
punctuating/comprehensive policy Students will attempt to balance the federal budget using
reform an online simulation. They will identify and explain the
o Devolution costs of their fiscal choices and analyze the long-term
o Implementation impacts of their approach on the national debt.
• Types of Politics (majoritarian, client, interest
group, entrepreneurial)
• Costs-benefits analysis, legitimacy of recipients
• Social Policy
o Entitlement programs
o Public assistance v. social insurance
o New Deal v. Great Society, Obamacare,
Social Security
o Individualism v. collectivism
o Equality of opportunity v. equality of
results
• Environmental Policy
16o Clean Air Act, Endangered Species Act
o Environmental impact statements
o Climate change, cap and trade programs
o Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Foreign/Defense Policy
o Hard v. soft power
o Military industrial complex
o War powers (Congress v. President)
• Economic Policy
o Fiscal policy
§ Government budget process
§ Office of Management & Budget
(OMB), Congressional Budget
Office (CBO)
§ Mandatory v. discretionary
spending
§ Budget deficits v. national debt
§ Government shutdown
§ Taxation (payroll taxes, income
tax, progressive v. regressive
taxes, sales tax, IRS)
o Monetary policy
§ The Federal Reserve
§ Interest rates, money supply
o Government regulation
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